Major General John H. Smith is the adjutant general of Ohio and a member of the Governor's cabinet responsible for the operation of the Adjutant General's Department and the military preparedness of the Ohio Militia. The organized militia consists of the Ohio Army National Guard, Ohio Air National Guard, Ohio Military Reserve, and Ohio Naval Militia, totaling more than 18,000 personnel. He supervises four flag officer heads of these components and one deputy director in the day-to-day operation and management of the fiscal, personnel, equipment, and real property resources of these military organizations and state agencies. He flew combat missions in the Republic of Vietnam from January 1965 through January 1966. In the fall of 1965, as a C-123 navigator, he participated in numerous resupply airdrop missions near Da Nang Air Base and Viet An, Republic of Vietnam.
1965 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1984 Air Command and Staff College, by seminar
1985 Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
1976 Bachelor of science degree in economics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn.
1. September 1961 - August 1962, aviation cadet, James Connally Air Force Base, Texas
2. August 1962 - October 1964, RB-57 navigator, 1211th Squadron, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
3. October 1964 - January 1965, student, C-123 navigator training, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
3. January 1965 - January 1966, C-123 navigator, 311th Air Commando Squadron, Danang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam
5. January 1966 - July 1967, navigator instructor, Mather Air Force Base, Texas
6. July 1967 - August 1968, student, primary pilot training, Webb Air Force Base, Texas
7. September 1968 - May 1969, student, F-102 combat crew training, Perrin Air Force Base, Texas
8. May 1969 - July 1973, F-102 and F-4E tactical fighter pilot, 526th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ramstein, Germany
9. July 1973 - December 1973, inactive status, HQ Air Reserve Personnel Center, Denver, Colo.
10. December 1973 - March 1974, student, F-100 combat crew training, Tucson, Ariz.
11. March 1974 - June 1976, F-100 pilot, 132nd Tactical Fighter Wing, Des Moines, Iowa
12. July 1976 - January 1979, flight commander, 162nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Springfield-Beckley MAP, Ohio
13. January 1979 - January 1980, squadron operations officer, 162nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Springfield-Beckley MAP,
Ohio
14. January 1980 - July 1982, squadron commander, 162nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Springfield-Beckley MAP, Ohio
15. July 1982 - July 1984, director of operations, 162nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Springfield-Beckley MAP, Ohio
16. July 1984 - June 1985, student, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
17. June 1985 - February 1987, director of operations, 178th Tactical Fighter Group, Springfield-Beckley MAP, Ohio
18. February 1987 - April 1991, group commander, 180th Tactical Fighter Group, Toledo, Ohio
19. April 1991 - August 1996, wing commander, 121st Tactical Fighter Wing/Air Refueling Wing, Columbus, Ohio
20. September 1996 - January 1999, assistant adjutant general for air, State Headquarters, Ohio Air National Guard,
Columbus, Ohio
21. January 1999 - present, the adjutant general for Ohio, Columbus, Ohio
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,000
Aircraft flown: RB-57, C-123, T-37, T-38, F-102, F-100, F-4E, A-7D and KC-135R
Pilot wings from: Webb Air Force Base, Texas
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross, one bronze oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with two silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with two Valor devices and four oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Air Force Training Ribbon
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with bronze service star
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Second Lieutenant Aug 7, 1962
First Lieutenant Feb 7, 1964
Captain Aug 8, 1969
Major Aug 7, 1976
Lieutenant Colonel Aug 7, 1983
Colonel Jun 14, 1987
Brigadier General Aug 12, 1992
Major General Mar 2, 1998
(Current as of May 2000)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.